—Next Day, Cole POV—
Leaving the Sikul capital early the next day, I sent my family to Castle Town while I hung back in the Cal Mira Archipelago with everyone else. Quickly explaining that I had established friendly relations with L'Arc and company, Aultcray asked if this meant they were no longer potential threats to their world.
"No, we are allies in this fight now.", L'Arc replied giving Aultcray a firm handshake, "I would like to work with you and this world to bring about a new era of peace and prosperity. Cole has explained to us who our true enemy is and we want to see them taken down. The only way our worlds will survive is if we work together to kill Medea and dissemble her organization!"
"Cole, can we really trust they won't stab us in the back?", Aultcray inquired still not sold on the sudden change of heart from his perspective.
"The situation on the other side was far worse than I initially anticipated. If you recall, one of the deities I am after managed to escape a few months ago. He fled to their world and literally drove it into the ground in the time since then.", I said motioning to L'Arc, "King L'Arc is the last remaining monarch from their world, all of the others were brutally killed."
Staring into the young King's eyes for a moment, Aultcray nodded his head understanding the situation now. Like me, I was certain that the King of Melromarc could see the competent, caring soul in front of me. Since both sides had a vested interest in ensuring the survival of their worlds, he could be certain L'Arc wouldn't betray them.
"Very well, we have barely an hour before the Wave will begin. If you don't mind, I would like to review the battle plans with you both while the troops finish deploying the defenses.", Aultcray suggested.
"Lead the way.", L'Arc said motioning for Meliodas and Zeldris to follow us.
Pulling out a map of the island we were on, Aultcray began explaining how they had their ships and manpower deployed. Marking each cluster of soldiers on the map, he asked L'Arc to help fill in the holes along the shore with his men. Telling us that they'd take care of it, the two brothers promptly left having memorized the troop deployments already.
"Those two have a different aura about them.", Aultcray commented.
"Oh that's because they aren't human…they are Demons.", L'Arc laughed, "It took me a month to get used to it at first, but all of them are actually pretty nice people. That said… there is a short silver-haired woman with Zeldris, try not to get on her bad side as she may suck your soul out."
"I am faithful to my wife, I can assure you I won't be tempted by another woman.", Aultcray assured him.
"Uh…he doesn't mean in a sexual fashion.", I remarked trying to not mock him, "Their race has the ability to pull a soul out of someone and devour it for food. Melascula, the woman he is referring to, has a very short temper and enjoys eating souls whenever possible."
"Oh…", he replied with a pale expression, "I will alert my men to give her a healthy distance."
Agreeing with his suggestion, Aultcray promptly sent messengers out to relay that order.
—An Hour Later—
Standing in the Crow's Nest of the lead ship, I checked my clock for the time. Confirming that the Wave should have started three minutes earlier, my first concern was that the Wave moved locations. Glancing back to the beach, the Legendary Heroes were still at their posts waiting for the fighting to start.
"Aultcray, I think we have a problem.", I said reaching out to him telepathically, "According to my watch we are well past the start time. Has something like this happened before?"
"Not that I can recall, the Waves always happen exactly when the Dragon Hourglass predicts them. Sir Naofumi confirmed your information using the Hourglass in the sea so I am certain your information was correct.", Aultcray answered with a concerned tone, "Can you please reach out to Castle Town to be safe?"
Since my wives were still at the castle, I called Shino's cell to get an update. Answering my call after a few rings, it appeared I had caught them having drinks in the kitchen. Hearing the sound of a cork being pulled out of a bottle while several conversations were happening in the background, I asked Shino how the situation was there.
"Yeah, everything is fine here.", Shino stated as she poured herself a glass, "The Queen had everyone shelter in their homes in the event the worst case scenario played out. While we have been waiting, we kind of broke into the Royal Wine Cellar to pass the time. From our vantage point at the castle, everything is fine outside and the skies are clear. Is something wrong?"
"The Wave should have started a few minutes ago, but nothing happened. We are just checking to make sure it didn't move somewhere else.", I replied using Detection Magic to check areas where we didn't have eyes, "Hmm…it doesn't appear like one spawned anywhere. Let me know if anything pops up, I will be over in a while to pick you all up. Please make sure the children don't get any booze."
"Of course, see you in a while dear.", Shino said before hanging up.
With concerns that the Wave spawned somewhere else abated, I returned to the island and met with Aultcray who had made his way to the front. Asking me what was going on I waited for L'Arc to approach before giving my assessment.
"I think Medea knows that both sides have come together to face her so the Waves will no longer happen. Having been in similar positions to hers in the past, I am certain now that she is preparing for a defensive fight in her chosen world.", I remarked, "We should assume that when we launch our assault that we will face heavy enemy opposition."
"That could be the case, but couldn't it also be possible that the Wave spawned in King L'Arc's world?", Aultcray suggested.
"No, Lady Merlin has several spells in place that would alert us if a Wave spawned. Having seen them work several times already, I am certain that our world is fine for the moment. I think Cole is absolutely right, Medea has to be preparing for the endgame now.", L'Arc agreed with me, "For the time being, I believe we should focus on gathering military strength for this battle. While Cole could easily handle this himself, as these are our worlds, I don't want to pawn this off onto him. I was born and raised in my homeland, I refuse to let someone else fight for me while I stand by and watch!"
Wholeheartedly agreeing with his sentiment, the two men shook hands and agreed to reconvene in two months when they had their forces fully assembled. Opening a portal for them to return home, before she left Merlin asked if I intended to visit them again. Telling me that she would enjoy talking more about my research into the magical arts, I promised to see them again in the near future. Closing the portal once everyone was through I left it to Aultcray and Mirellia to bring together an International Army for the coming final battle.
—3rd Person POV—
Showing up at his parent's residence in a foul mood, Rizevim wanted to know who broke into his lab and stole his test subjects. As a well-known powerhouse in the Underworld, he knew that only a handful of individuals would dare steal from him and two happened to live here. Knowing that his father had recently brokered a ceasefire with the Biblical God and Fallen Angels, he suspected his father may have used them as leverage to receive more concessions from the other factions.
Calmly walking through the front door, he was greeted by his father's servants who asked how they might be of assistance. Telling them that he wished to speak with his father, they asked him to wait in the study while they went to fetch him. Heading straight there, Rizevim saw his mother sitting out on the balcony outside the room. Seeing a worried expression on her face, he began to wonder if they really had done it. Hearing his father come storming down the hall fuming with anger, Rizevim was curious about what was going on.
"I don't appreciate you showing up unannounced, I have more important things I could be doing.", Lucifer complained as he walked into the room, "Why have you come without requesting a meeting?"
"Someone broke into my laboratory and stole my test subjects…you wouldn't happen to know who did that, would you?", Rizevim questioned hiding his annoyance at his father's tone.
"Ah, that would explain it then.", he sighed in frustration, "Leviathan sent a few of her subordinates to confiscate them yesterday. We had to use them to avoid a war with a rather troublesome foe…"
Before he could get clarification on who that foe was, Lilith came back into the study in a hurry. Trying to prevent one of her favorite children from being sent to their death, she gripped his cloak tightly and told him not to fight Cole.
"Cole is a being of immeasurable power, he could have killed the Biblical God and everyone else at the conference easily. In fact, he killed your father with a playful blow to the head…your father is only alive because he resurrected him on a whim.", Lilith warned him, "The Youkai Faction is under his protection now, and if we hadn't handed them over he would have rampaged across the Underworld to get them. Leviathan took them to prevent her territory and allies from being killed."
"This has something to do with the violent tremors yesterday then…I understand.", he responded, "I will have to chat with Leviathan about this then, thank you."
"Please wait, we can find you other test subjects from the Elves or another magical race. Don't provoke him any further!", Lilith pleaded out of motherly concern.
"If I don't act others will believe they can take from me without consequences.", Rizevim replied with a smile that hid his true twisted gaze, "Don't fret Mother, I will be civil with this Cole about things."
Promptly leaving the residence after that, Rizevim immediately headed for Leviathan's mansion to discipline her.